Minimum Qualifications

SUMMARY: Under general supervision, is responsible for professional entomological work of considerable difficulty and supervisory work of routine difficulty; and performs related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: An employee in this class plans and directs field surveys of plants to investigate plant diseases, selects appropriate media, methods, and techniques for isolation and growth of plant pathogens, and performs difficult technical identification of plant pathogens.

Other Requirements

Performs insect identifications using entomological methods for regulatory, private, and public entities; collects samples of suspected pests or insect damage using entomological collection methods (e.g., traps, nets, core samples); inspects anatomy of insect and allied organisms (e.g., spiders and mites) to identify unique physiological characteristics; compares insect anatomy to taxonomy descriptions and illustrations; identifies genus and species of collected samples.
Monitors movement of quarantined insects (e.g., Gypsy Moth, Imported Fire Ant); reviews State and Federal data concerned with quarantined insects; collects data on quarantined insects through insect survey, inspection and trapping programs; writes reports which include detection, eradication, and suppression activities of quarantined insects; enforces policy and procedure for operations and functions within sphere of authority; recommends quarantine restrictions for a specified geographical area to State and Federal officials.
Recommends appropriate eradication methods and procedures including aerial spraying, ground application, biological predators; reviews inspection or infestation reports and samples of insect damage to identify the type of insect involved; selects the best method of insect control to recommend based on the type of insect, size of infestation area, location of infestation (e.g., urban, rural), and other health or environmental concerns.
Provides technical guidance to inspectors, horticultural and other growers, and the public about insect related problems via television, radio, newspapers, or other communications media; suggests possible insect type based on plant damage; makes pesticide recommendations based on the type of insect to be controlled.
Participates in insect eradication and suppression activities; plans the Gypsy Moth control program for Middle Tennessee; counts the number of egg masses in a specific geographical area during the survey annual egg mass survey; determines the number and location of Gypsy Moth traps to place in a geographical area; evaluates bids by private contractors for aerial pesticide spraying.
Supervises seasonal staff involved in the Gypsy Moth program; makes recommendation on employment, retention, promotion, demotion, and other human resources actions; makes duty assignments; trains employees in the proper placement and inspection procedures of Gypsy Moth traps; checks traps to ensure they are properly placed in the correct location; writes performance evaluations.
Studies relevant regulatory insect control policies and procedures and makes recommendations for changes; explains and interprets regulatory policies concerning hazardous or quarantined insects; may writes new regulatory policies and procedures concerned with the detection, eradication, and suppression of hazardous or quarantined insects.

Job Overview

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in entomology, zoology, or related biological field and experience equivalent to three years of full-time professional entomological work.

Substitution of Experience for Education: Qualifying full-time professional experience in entomology may be substituted for the required education, on a year-for-year basis, to a maximum of four years.

Substitution of Education for Experience: Additional graduate course work in entomology or related acceptable field may be substituted for the required experience, on year-for-year basis, to a maximum of two years.

Competencies (KSA's)

NECESSARY SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS: A valid motor vehicle operator's license may be required.

EXAMINATION METHOD: Education and experience rating, 100%.

State Employee Benefits

Insurance There are a variety of insurance options available to state employees including:

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Annual Leave Full-time employees earn annual leave each month at a rated based on years of service as follows:

Years of Service

0 up to 5
5 up to 10
10 up to 20
20 or more

Annual Leave Earned per Month

1 day
1 and ½ days
1 and ¾ days
2 days

Maximum Allowable days

30 days
36 days
39 days
42 days
Leave earned in excess of the maximum allowable days will be transferred to the employee's sick leave account annually on the employee's anniversary hire date.

Sick Leave All full-time employees accrue 1 day (7.5 hours) of sick leave per month, provided they work the major portion of that month.
Bereavement Leave Leave with pay is granted for three days in the event of the death of an employee's spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, parents, grandparents, siblings, stepparents, foster parents, or parents-in-law without charge to the employee's leave time. Two additional days of sick leave may be granted to provide a total of five days absence for this purpose.
Family Medical Leave Allows up to twelve work weeks of leave* each year to eligible employees for certain family and medical reasons. Continued health insurance coverage is provided during the leave period, and the employee is reinstated to the same or an equivalent position once the leave period has ended.
Leave may or may not be paid leave, depending on individual employee's leave balances for earned leave.

Parental Leave Parental leave is an absence from work granted any employee who has been employed in state service for at least 12 consecutive months as a full-time employee. Parental leave is a combination of sick, annual, or special leave without pay for a period not to exceed four months following the birth of a child.
Military Leave Granted in accordance with applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations.
Holidays Each year, full-time state employees receive 11 holidays off with pay.
Retirement State employees are automatically members of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System . (TCRS) Employees must accrue 5 years of creditable state service to be vested (guaranteed retirement benefits when age requirements are met). Vested members of TCRS become eligible for service retirement upon completion of 30 years of creditable service or upon attainment of age 60.
Deferred Compensation Employees may choose to make pre-tax contributions to a variety of investment options through the 401(k) plan or the 457 plan. A minimum $20 monthly contribution is required to participate in the plans. For the 401(k) plan, the state will match the $50 per month minimum contribution. The $50 match policy is evaluated on an annual basis.
Flexible Benefits Plan Under this program certain specific expenses (e.g.,medical and dental insurance premiums, medical expenses, dependent day care expenses) can be deducted from an employee's paycheck prior to taxes, resulting in a lower taxable income level.
Higher Education Fee Discounts and Waivers A 25% discount on undergraduate tuition at any state operated institution of higher learning in Tennessee is available to children 23 years of age or under of full time state employees. In addition, full-time state employees with six months of continuous service are eligible to have tuition fees waived for one course per semester at a state institution. For further information on higher education discounts, click on Chapter 1540 on the Secretary of State Rules and Regulations web page.
Baccalaureate Education System Trust (BEST) Program (BEST) The Baccalaureate Education System Trust (BEST) was created by the Tennessee General Assembly for the purpose of providing Tennessee families with a means to save for their children's future college education costs.
Wellness Program The State Employee Wellness Program works to increase employees´ knowledge of options for healthier lifestyles through information and events that focus on improving behaviors affecting your health. Some specific benefits offered through the program include health risk assessments, fitness events, smoking cessation programs, and various other benefits.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) EAP is a confidential counseling and referral service for all employees and their dependents. All services are strictly confidential and can be accessed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

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